United News of Bangladesh

Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have exceeded 9,000, with more than 4,300 deaths, as health authorities struggle to contain an outbreak spreading across seven provinces, according to government figures released Tuesday. The Health Ministry reported 9,066 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths, putting the death toll close to half the number of confirmed infections. The rising number of deaths has alarmed health workers and authorities, particularly as many fatalities have occurred outside treatment centres. The latest report recorded 88 new cases and warned that community transmission remained a concern. The outbreak has spread to more communities, creating new hotspots. A total of 65 health zones across seven provinces have been affected. Officials estimate that confirmed cases account for only about one-third of the actual infections, with many cases going undetected. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which no approved vaccine or treatment is available. Efforts to contain the virus have been hampered by fighting between government forces and rebel groups, widespread disregard for health precautions, population movements, and shortages of medical supplies and treatment centres. The conflict has also contributed to one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. The outbreak has surpassed the scale of Congo's previous 16 Ebola outbreaks and is on course to exceed the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which killed around 11,000 people. “I feel that the government is overwhelmed by events. But there is nothing else to say. The government needs to fully shoulder its responsibilities to ensure the effectiveness of the response against Ebola,” said Samuel Buju, a resident of Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, one of the worst-affected areas. Last week, Kenya became the second country after Uganda to report an Ebola case imported from Congo, heightening concerns about the virus spreading across national borders.

The Government of Bangladesh, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), officially launched the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Bangladesh on Tuesday at a hotel in Dhaka to strengthen coordinated action against plastic pollution and accelerate the transition towards a circular economy. Led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), NPAP Bangladesh brought together government institutions, businesses, development partners, academia, civil society and waste-sector actors to align policies, investments and practical solutions. UNDP Bangladesh will host the NPAP Secretariat, supporting coordination and collaboration among stakeholders. The launch comes as Bangladesh faces growing challenges from plastic pollution. A World Bank report published in 2024, drawing on earlier national data, estimated nearly one million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with almost 70 percent dumped, littered or openly burned, contributing to environmental pollution, flooding and public health risks. Speaking as the chief guest, Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo called for collective action. “Instead of producing, consuming and discarding materials, we must find ways to reduce unnecessary use, improve design, increase reuse, strengthen collection and recycling and keep valuable resources within the economy for longer.” Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change stated “A circular economy is not simply about managing waste differently. It is about using our resources more responsibly, protecting our environment and creating a system in which everyone has a role and everyone can benefit”. Stephen Rodriques, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, added “When we meet again in 2027, we should not simply be holding another conference on plastics. We should be able to show which measures have been introduced, how much unnecessary plastic use has been reduced, how much more plastic is being collected and recycled, and what difference this is making to our rivers, cities and communities.” Clémence Schmid, Director of GPAP at the World Economic Forum, stressed the importance of evidence-based collaboration. “The opportunity now is to build on those strengths and translate them into more coordinated, evidence-based action.” Through collective action, NPAP Bangladesh aims to strengthen resource efficiency, encourage innovation and advance a cleaner, more inclusive and sustainable circular economy.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid has urged fishermen to refrain from catching mother hilsa during the breeding season to boost production and protect the country's fisheries resources. “Promise me keeping your hand on your chest that you will not catch any hilsa,” he said while addressing a food assistance distribution and public awareness programme for fishermen at Paschim Dasadi Boro Khan Bari ground in Chandpur Sadar upazila on Tuesday noon. The programme was organised by the District Fisheries Office in Chandpur under the government's Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme. The minister said protecting hilsa during the breeding season would help increase future production while ensuring long-term economic benefits for fishermen and strengthening the country's fisheries sector. He said the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen were closely linked to the national economy and food security. The government was, therefore, giving priority to improving the living standards of people dependent on these sectors. During the 22-day fishing ban, the government is providing food assistance to fishermen to help them cope with the temporary loss of income, he said. Alongside government support, initiatives were also being taken to create alternative income sources for fishermen, the minister added. Emphasising the need to strengthen their economic capacity, he said modern methods such as cage fish farming could create income opportunities during fishing bans. He also called for integrated initiatives to ensure the sustainable management of fisheries resources and improve fishermen's living standards. Highlighting Chandpur's importance in the fisheries sector, the minister said the district plays a significant role in hilsa production and the river-based economy. He said protecting fisheries resources would benefit the national economy and create opportunities to improve the livelihoods of fishing communities. Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Ziaur Rahman chaired the programme. Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md Delwar Hossain, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Md Khaled Kanak, Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman and River Police Superintendent Syed Mushfiqur Rahman attended as special guests.

Two workers were killed and seven others injured after the roof shuttering of an under-construction municipal building collapsed in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Asadul Haque, a resident of Sadullapur upazila in Gaibandha, and Shihab from Rangpur. The accident occurred at the under-construction building of Pirganj Municipality in Arajigangarampur area of the upazila. Contractors from Vision 2020 were reportedly carrying out the construction work. Locals said 13 workers had been working on the roof of the building since morning when the shuttering suddenly collapsed, trapping four workers under the debris. A team from Pirganj Fire Service rushed to the scene and rescued the trapped workers, who were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Later, doctors on duty declared Asadul and Shihab dead. Local residents also rescued five injured workers and took them to Pirganj Upazila Health Complex. Three of the injured were identified as Liton Mandal, Salim Mia and Babla Mia. The identities of the other injured workers were not immediately known. Pirganj Fire Service Station Officer Nazmul Sarkar said two of the injured are receiving treatment in critical condition.   Rangpur-6 lawmaker Nurul Amin visited the scene and demanded that those responsible for any negligence be brought to justice.

At least six students of the Marketing Department of Dhaka University (DU) were injured after being hit by a private car in front of a gate near the Faculty of Business Studies (FBS) and Mal Chattar on the campus. The accident occurred around 11:30am on Tuesday. The injured students were rescued and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Angry students reportedly vandalized the car following the incident. All six injured students are from the 2025-26 academic session of the university's Marketing Department. Eyewitnesses said some of them were in critical condition. The car involved in the accident belongs to Professor Dr Md Shahidul Islam of DU's Department of Mathematics. His son, Sadman Sakib, was driving the vehicle. According to eyewitnesses, Sadman was driving his father's car around the campus while learning to drive for the first time. At one point, as he reached the gate near the Faculty of Business Studies and Mal Chattar, the car hit students travelling in a rickshaw and others standing on the road, throwing them off and injuring them. Two of the injured students reportedly suffered cuts to their legs and were bleeding. In a short video recorded after the incident, Sadman Sakib was heard saying, “I was driving a car for the first time today. While trying to brake, I mistakenly pressed the accelerator. I'm sorry.” Fahim Rahman, a student of the Marketing Department's 2022-23 academic session and an eyewitness, said, “Hearing a loud noise, I came out onto the road and saw the car hit the rickshaw hard. The students inside the rickshaw were thrown out, and several of them were injured.” Eyewitnesses said angry students beat two people who were in the car and vandalized the vehicle following the accident. Sadman Sakib was later taken to the university's proctor's office. Classmates of the injured students staged a sit-in outside the office, demanding justice. DU Proctor Md IsrafiI Ratan confirmed the accident, saying several students had been injured and given primary treatment. He also said the driver did not have a driving licence at the time of the accident. Sadman was still at the proctor's office, he added, assuring that the punishment prescribed by law for such incidents would be ensured. Professor Dr Md Shahidul Islam, Sadman's father, said, “I will accept whatever decision the university administration makes.”  

A proposal to relocate the Bangladesh Secretariat to Agargaon will be placed before the next Cabinet meeting for approval, Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher said on Tuesday. “Preparatory work was underway with the aim of completing the relocation during the tenure of the current government and the main implementation work will begin once the Cabinet approves the proposal,” he said while talking to journalists at an event at the Secretariat. The minister said a master plan for relocating the Secretariat had been prepared in the past, and preliminary policy work and procedures had already begun in line with the plan. The proposal will be placed before the next Cabinet meeting, and further steps will be taken swiftly if approval is granted, he added. Explaining the need for relocation, the minister said the existing Secretariat frequently faces problems due to a shortage of space and parking facilities. Offices of several ministries have had to be scattered across buildings outside the main complex. He also noted that most of the buildings at the Secretariat were constructed in the 1960s and had become old. Considering safety risks during earthquakes and other natural disasters, repairing the ageing buildings and finding a permanent alternative have become essential, he said. Taking all these factors into account, the government is working towards relocating the entire Secretariat to a new site in Agargaon during its current tenure, the minister added. Referring to the prime minister's directives and willingness to implement the plan, Zakaria Taher said the government aimed to complete the initial and main phases of construction and relocation within its stipulated tenure, subject to formal Cabinet approval.

Two sisters died after being electrocuted at their home in Katlamari village under Dakatia union of Bhaluka upazila in Mymensingh on Tuesday evening. The deceased were identified as Fatema Akter, 7, and Nahida Akter, 3, daughters of Shahabuddin of the village. Bhaluka Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jahidul Islam said Shahabuddin recently built a new room at his house and connected electricity to it from the old house. A leakage in the electrical wiring caused the steel door of the new room to become electrified. The two sisters were electrocuted when they opened the door to go outside in the evening and died on the spot. Police visited the scene and prepared an inquest report. The OC said the bodies were handed over to the family for burial without autopsies following a request from the family.

Women are often at the forefront of pro-democracy movements, but their leadership rarely translates into lasting influence over the negotiations, constitutions and institutions that follow political upheaval, speakers said at an international convening in the city on Tuesday. The BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) of BRAC University and Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) organised the event, titled "Women, Power, and Political Orders in Muslim Society Contexts." Scholars, activists, lawmakers, legal practitioners and policy experts from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Palestine and Syria shared experiences of how women shape, and are often sidelined from, political transitions, transitional justice and the institutions that follow. The convening set out to identify concrete lessons and strategies for closing that gap, with particular attention to how religion legitimises or constrains women's participation in public life. Opening the event, BIGD Executive Director Imran Matin said women have been both agents of change and victims of the new forces that emerge during transitions. "Yet they can become a far more transformative force if we can organise better," he said. Homa Hoodfar, professor emerita of anthropology at Concordia University, Canada, and WLUML executive board member, warned that women's rights won during political transitions are often traded away. "Women must be present when the rules of a new political order are written," she said. "Constitutional equality must be backed by institutions able to enforce it." Echoing her, Mona Tajali, lecturer in feminist, gender and sexuality studies at Stanford University and WLUML executive board member, said there is an assumption that gender equality will automatically follow democratisation. "We may see some women in power in those moments; however, it is all temporary and very fragile," she said. Barrister Sara Hossain, senior lawyer at the Supreme Court and honorary executive director of the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, questioned whether the enthusiastic discussions after the July 2024 uprising had produced real change. "We need to rethink women's position in society, or we can allow things to continue ad nauseam," she said. Sara urged the women's movement to build alliances across political parties, including with those it disagrees with. Reflecting on women's role within an Islamic political party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami women MP Mardia Mumtaz said, "We must introduce a cleaner, more visible way for women to participate in politics without exercising muscle power." "We want to see men and women act as co-architects of political power. And we want this not only for Jamaat-e-Islami, but for all political parties," she added. Closing the event, Samia Huq, dean of the School of General Education at BRAC University, stressed the need for transnational solidarity in advancing women's progress in Muslim societies. "By taking into account the diversity of personhoods, allowing women to move beyond the political, social, and economic forces that seek to control them, and letting them speak by centering their choices and aspirations, we can make room for the lived realities of women and men in Muslim societies," she said.